Mod 2000 or switch??!

[Camboi07]

Hi everyone.

I’ve got an s2000 and the handling is very unpredictable and snappy.

I’m deciding between modifying sway bars and coils etc or if I should consider something more predictable like a gt86?????

Just asking because I don’t want to spend money to modify the suspension and still not be happy with a car that spins out without warning.

Thanks in advance!

[DanielSan]

Bushes and get the suspension geometry setup. That's all that had been changed when I bought my old one and it handled brilliantly. If it's a pre-facelift get either the facelift geo or a fast road geometry setup done.

I added eibach springs not long after buying it and had the geo set again as lowering changes it. Not a single issue the whole time I had the car and it drifted wet roundabouts really nicely.

[Camboi07]

Very useful cheers!

I’ve had a problem with
1) high speed sweepers, where the back end just goes without warning

2) snap back oversteer or a tank slapper (my driver error honestly)

3) tight turns on roundabouts violent transition from understeer to oversteer

Did your modifications help in these areas?
And how does it compare to other rwd cars?

[DanielSan]

I've got an E46 M3 now and I'd say that's way more tail happy when you turn the electronic aids off than the S2000 ever was.

If the car is acting like you say it is I'd say it could well be that the lower arm bushes are on their way out. It's a common thing with them and makes them very interesting to drive...

[Camboi07]

I had it aligned last month and it is pulling to the left again already. That could be a sign of what you said.

[Camboi07]

Also do you find the M3 harder or easier to slide?

[SturdyHSV]

The earlier S2000s were apparently 'snappier', the later ones softened up a bit.

Perhaps looking in to what Honda changed to make the later ones more forgiving would give some good insight into where to focus your attention.

That and checking the suspension is in good condition, and that the tyres are decent / matching.

[Camboi07]

Yes I’ve heard this and have a plan of the mods to do it.

But after mods would I get as good as steering feel and progressiveness as similar cars?

Feeling like the s2000s were almost set up incorrectly out the factory for most people.

[DanielSan]

Steering feel won't change a massive amount, but it's not bad from standard anyway. The car will feel a lot more stable though, daft as it sounds check your tyre pressures, if they're off that won't help either.

M3 is easier to drift than the S2000 is, personally I found my old cheap 330 with a welded diff and cheap rollovers easier than the M3 to drift, purely because I didn't care about it so you try a bit harder. You'll never make an S2000 easy to drift though they're just a hard car to do it in. Take a look a the few S2000's in drift championships and there aren't that many, there's sod all of the original car left to get them to drift well.

[Camboi07]

Not sure if I asked this but what sort of feedback did you get from both cars when they were about to break traction?

[siwil1]

What tyres are you running?

Also as has been said it sounds like the geo is out or something is failing bush wise.

Where are you in the country and are you on s2kuk or one of the facebook pages as lots of recommendations on where to take it to get sorted.

Mines an 08 with eibach springs, Geo set up by R2 automotive and Yokohama AD08R tyres 255 rears 225 fronts and struggle to get the back to move at sensible road speeds.

[Camboi07]

I have the same tyres as you only on the back though.

I am also running a stock road alignment.

[Camboi07]

I am also based in Warwickshire.
Feel like I need to go to a S2KUK meet to talk to people who own the car

[siwil1]

if you use facebook go on Honda S2000 owners uk you'll get a lot more help on there.

I'm Essex so cant help with any recommendations for your area.

I wouldnt run mixed tyres personally especially with the AD08's as grip levels will be massively different. These cars are very tyre and geo sensitive.

[Camboi07]

What are the best tyres for the car?
I’ve heard my ADVANs are very good and I would agree with that.

[siwil1]

Tyres are very subjective and ive only used AD08's and the Bridgestones which the car came on.

The AD08's are much better in the dry and overall a superior tyre (imo) but in the wet I did feel more confident on the Bridgestones. Although the Yoko's do have a B wet rating which surprises me !